Mobile recovered at IAF base, NIA to continue SP’s questioning

New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) A mobile phone, an AK-47 magazine and a binocular were recovered on Monday from the IAF base in Pathankot even as authorities said the questioning of Punjab Police officer Salwinder Singh by the NIA will continue on Tuesday.

“A 10-member team of the National Investigation Agency, led by an officer of deputy inspector general of police-rank, continued the search operation in the area where the gun battle with the terrorists took place. One AK-47 magazine, a mobile phone and a binocular were recovered from the scene,” a home ministry statement said here.

Salwinder Singh will again be questioned on Tuesday as the process could not be completed on Monday, the statement added.

The NIA on Monday questioned Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh who is suspected of helping the terrorists who struck at the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot in Punjab in the early hours of January 2.

The central agency said a ‘Black Corner’ notice will be issued for the identification of the bodies of four terrorists killed in the counter-offensive by security forces at the base.

“A Black Corner notice is being issued to the Interpol for the identification of the bodies of the four slain terrorists,” it said.

The home ministry statement said Salwinder’s jeweller friend Rajesh Verma and cook Madan Gopal have also been questioned and would be called again for questioning, if needed.

“The NIA teams have continued to question SP Salwinder Singh’s friend Rajesh Verma as well as his cook Madan Gopal in Punjab. Madan Gopal will be called for questioning at the NIA headquarters in Delhi and the date of his questioning will be intimated in due course,” it added.

Seven security personnel were killed in the attack at the IAF base in Pathankot, located 250 km from Chandigarh, by terrorists suspected from Pakistan. All six terrorists were killed in the counter-offensive.